Expansion joint for rotatable bodies



Jan. 421, 1930. c, GREENE 1,744,467

EXPANSION J OINT FOR ROTATABLE BODIES Filed Nov. 30, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 2 2,3 M r 1553' s.

Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. GREENE, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO E. B. BADGER 8c SONS COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS Application filed November 30, m3 Serial No. 151,755.

This invention relates to expansion joints for rotatable bodies, being more particularly intended to provide means for sealing or sub-.

stantially sealing an opening through which there protrudes a rotary member subject to expansion and contraction, such, for example, as the opening in a brick or other setting through which the end of a rotary dryer drum extends.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation in partial section, and partly broken away, showing a rotary drying drum mounted in the brick setting of a furnace;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, partly broken away, showing one protruding end of the drum and the connection thereto of an expansion joint adapted to seal or substantially seal the opening in the setting through which the protruding end of the drum extends;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the straps or links for limiting the expansion of the sleeve and apportioning such expansion between the several corrugations thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the means for holding the free end of the sleeve structure against rotation.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of the invention therein illustrated, the drying drum 11, the opposite ends only of which are shown, is supported at each opposite end by means of tires 13 and 15, the tire 13 being rotatably supported upon a pair of grooved rollers 17 and at its opposite end supported upon a pair of ungrooved rollers 19. The rollers 17 and 19 are j ournaled in brackets 21 and 23. The drum, which is rotated from any suitable source of power through the large driving gear 25 secured to the drum adjacent the tire 13, extends through a circular opening 27 in the brick walls 29 at one end of the heating chamber 31 and at the opposite end through the opening 33. The heated gases are admitted to the heating'chamber 31 from the combustion chamber 35 of the furnace through the opening or openings 37 in the setting and are passed upward around the drum and toward the opposite end of the heating chamber, where they escape through suitable fiues, not herein shown.

During the operation of the drum, the latter is rotated and subjected to the heated gases to effect the drying of the contents of the drum. Since the drum is subjected to wide varlations of temperature, varying from the low temperature of the surrounding atmosphere when the apparatus is out of use to substantially that of the products of combus- I the expansion or contraction of the drum.

manifests itself in the movement of the opposite end away from or toward the heating chamber. To permit such movement the faces of the rollers 19 have no flanges and are of a width suiiicicnt to permit the movement of the tire 15 across their faces for the necessary distance required by such expansions or contractions.

Since the walls of the drum must rotate in the opposite openings formed in the brick setting with a substantial or appreciable clearance, a leakage of the gases to or from the heating chamber will take place through the apertures 27 and 33 unless provision is made against such leakage, and the latter will be substantial irrespective of whether the walls of the drum where it passes through such openings are cylindrical or are tapered as shown in the drawings. Such leakage is particularly detrimental at the free end of the drum where it passes through the opening 27, since it is adjacent the point where the heated gases enter the heating chamber from the furnace, and is apt seriously to interfere with the draught conditions and efficiency of the furnace.

Herein there is provided means to seal the gap left between the rotating drum and the walls of the opening 27 in the form of a large peripherally corrugated metallic sleeve ontirely surrounding the end of the drum and having one end associated with the brick setting to cover the opening 27 therein and the opposite end connected to the protruding end of the rotary drying drum in such manner that while the sleeve is capable of expansion and contraction with the expansion and contraction of the drying drum it does not interfere with the free rotation of the drying drum and at the same time maintains for all practical pur )oses a substantial gas seal about the protruc ing walls of the drum.

Herein the corrugated sleeve 41 is provided with peripheral corrugations43 suflicient in number to provide the expansion required, the internal diameter of the sleeve being substantially greater than that of the external diameter of the drum. 'The sleeve is provided with a flanged end 45 by means of which it is clamped to the brick setting 29 with an intermediate gasket 47 so as to entirely surround and seal the opening 27 in the setting. The sleeve is clamped in position by means of the clamping ring 49 secured to the brick setting by bolts 51. The opposite or outer end 53 of the sleeve has a flanged end 55 which is secured between a clamping ring 57 and an annular clamping plate 59 by means of bolts 61, the latter also acting to bolt the annular grooved plate 63 on the opposite side of the clamping plate 59 from the clamping ring 57. The inturned face of the plate 63 is recessed so as toform in conjunction with the plate 59 a circumferential groove 65 of substantial depth into which there fits, with a relatively slight clearance when the parts are assembled, the flange 67 which extends radially outward from the hub 69, the latter fixedly secured to the drum by any suitable means, such as the set screws 71.

In the operation of the drum the flange 67 rotates therewith but maintains such a fit' with the grooved recess 65 that while the non-rotata le portion of the joint, including the rigid structure consisting of the plate 63, plate 59 and ring 57, is adapted to move freely longitudinally with the expansion and contraction of the drum, the passage of gas in either direction through the opening 27 in the setting is opposed and reduced and for all practical purposes the opening is sealed.

In order to relieve the sleeve from the effect of the torque which would otherwise be applied thereto by the rotation of the drum and flanged plate relatively thereto, means are preferably provided for positively holding the free end of the sleeve structure against rotation without impairing its capacity to move longitudinally. For this purpose the peripheral edgeof the rigid end portion of the joint structure, comprising the plate 63, plate 59 and ring 57, is slotted, as indicated in Fig. 4, and engages a longitudinal key or rib 73 lying parallel to the axis of the drum so as to provide a tongue and groove connection between the joint and the key. The key may be held fixedby any suitable means, as by being fixed to the inner walls of the large drum 75, the flanged end 7 7 of which is bolted to the brick casing so that it provides a fixed protective sleeve for the entire joint structure and at the same time serves to support the key 73, which latter relieves the joint of any torsional stress. The provisionof the fixed and non-rotative guide 73 for the sleeve also permits the use of a tighter fit between the flanged plate 67 and the walls of the grooved recess, since it relieves the joint of the detrimental effect of whatever friction may arise from a relatively tight fit between the rotative and non-rotative elements of the joint.

To render the seal between the rotating flange 67 and the grooved recess 65 more effective against leakage of gas, the groove may be packed with a grease having a high melting point so that it not only reduces the frictional effect of the relative rotation between the two parts, but assists in packing the joint against any leakage. lVhen the joint is thus packed with grease, the tendency of the grease to flow away under the softening action of the heat may be opposed by providing grooved lips 79 on opposite sides of the flange plate 67 and in a position where ghey face the grooved recess, as indicated in Leakage of gas at the joint may be further provided against if desired by additional means, there being herein shown for this purpose an annular strip 81 of resilient sheet metal which is so bent as to present a face bearing against the outer side of the flange plate 67 and in frictional contact therewith as the flange rotates, the opposite end of the strip being bent at substantially right angles and held between the inner periphery of the plate 63 and the edges of the sheet metal sleeve 83, the latter being held thereon by a series of angle brackets 85 which are distributed around the inner periphery of the plate 63 and present'each a spring-pressed plunger 87 adapted to press the contacting gether so as to be easily applied to or removed from the sleeve.

Each reinforcing ring is herein shaped to engage with the convex'inner arch-shaped walls of the corrugations constituting the grooves or depressions between successive ridges of the corrugations, the contour of the rings being preferably such also that when the sleeve is in its contracted position, as represented in Fig. 2, the side walls of the inwardly projecting portions of the rings fit snugly against the side walls of the corrugations between the grooves and the. ridges thereof. f

Through the closely fitting relation between the side walls of the corrugations and the side walls of the associated portions of the rings, the tendency is to restore the corrugations to the designed contour on each contraction of the sleeve, thereby tending to prevent the flattening or deformation of the arched walls of the corrugationsconstituting the outer ridges thereof and tending to equalize the amount of flexing which the corrugation undergoes at the respective bends in the ridges and in the grooves.

The reinforcing rings 89 are provided With laterally opposed side walls 91 which are adapted'to be brought into abutment when the joint is in its contracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby limiting the amount of contraction which can take place between successive corrugations but permitting the separation of the rings as the sleeve expands. The total contraction possible with the joint is limited by end limiting members 93 and 95 which are presented by the flange plates 49 and 57 respectively and which are adapted to engage the opposing side walls of the two opposite end reinforcing rings when the joint has reached its limit of contraction.

In the illustrative form of expansion joint there is also provided means for not only limiting the total expansion of the joint, but for limiting and equalizing or apportioning the expansion which may take place between successive c rrugations thereof. For that purpose ther are provided one or-more pref erably at'leasttwo). sets of straps or links associated with the outer periphery of the rings and arranged transversely thereto which limit the opening movement possible between each successive pair of rings and also between the end rings and the adjoining limiting members. j i

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the clamping ring 49 has bolted or otherwise fixedly secured thereto a short plate or strap 101 which overlies the circumferential surface of the next adjoining reinforcing ring 89 ot the series and is connected thereto by the stud 103 which passes through a slot. 105in the strap 101, the slot. being elongated so as to permit a limited separating movement of the reinforcing ring from the clamping ring.

the stud 111 in the next adjoining ringof the series there is also provided lost motion which limits the amount of separation between-the two said reinforcing rings and the amount I of expansion which can take place atthe intermediate corrugatlon of the oint. Successive ringsare connected'by similar strapsor plates which are arranged in staggered relation, as indicated in Fig. 3, the last ring of the series being connected to the clamping ring 57 to allow a limited separation between the. said ring and the last reinforcing ring of the series. lVhen the joint-is contracted the closing edges of the straps may be incontact or in substantial contact (as shown in Fi 2 and 3) but when the joint is expanded they separate from each other allowing the studs to move within the slots as described. The total amount of expansion is limited by the described connections and the expansion of the joint may be equally or otherwise apportioned, as desired, to the successive corrugations of. the joint.

The relation of the reinforcing rings to i the corrugations-of the sleeve and the devices which equalize or apportion the expansion between the successive corrugationsof the sleeve and limit thetotal expansion thereof are improvements which are applicable to expansion joints used in other connections than those herein described.

lVhile I have herein shown the expansion joint seal as protecting the opening in the walls of the heating chamber through which one end of the drum only extends, both openings may be protected in a similar manner if desired. In the illustrative en'ibodimc-nt of the invention, however, for purposes of simplicity, the oint is shown applied only to the free end of the drum. \Vith the illustrated specific construction of the apparatus, there less need for such a seal at the opposite or driven end of the drum since the movement of the drum at that end is comparatively slight and the clearance between the drum and the opening in the walls of the chamber may be made relativelysmall, and more particularly because the opening thereat is near the flue end of the apparatus where the effect of leakage on the draught conditions and the efficiency of the heater is relatively slight as compared with the effect of leakage at the opposite end of the heating chamber.

WVhile I have herein shown and described for the purposes of illustration one specific through the walls of which said drum. extends,

' structure carried by the end of the sleeve and the same comprising a longitudinall -expansible, peripherally-corrugated nietaliic sleeve surrounding the walls of the drying drum and having one end clamped to the walls of the heating chamber to cover the opening therein, sealing connections at the opposite end of the sleeve between the latter and the drying drum permitting relative rotation between the sleeve and the drum, while permitting also the longitudinal movement of, the sleeve with the contraction and expansion of the drum, said connections comprising a rigid presenting an internal circumfereritially grooved recess, a flanged member secured to the drum on aging and turning in said recess and longitu inally fixing the rigid structure with relation to the 1 dr um, a "longitudinal tongue and groove connection between the rigid structure of the sleeve and a stationary part of said heating chamber structure, whereby the said rigid structure is prevented from transmitting a twisting effort to the sleeve,-

and a sealing wall secured to the rigid structure and bearing against the side walls of said flanged member to overlie the joint betw'een tion of the drum, said connections COIHPI'lS ing a rigid structure carried by the end of the same. 1 a

2. An expansionjoint for a rotary drying apparatus employing a rotatable drying drum structure and a heating chamber st-ruc-' ture through the walls of which said drum.

extends, the same comprisin a longitudinally-expansible, peripherally-corrugated metallic sleeve surrounding the walls of the drying drum and having one end clamped to the walls of the heating chamber to cover the opening therein, sealing connections at the opposite end of the sleeve between the latter and the drying drum permitting relative rotation between the. sleeve and the drum while permitting also the longitudinal movement of the sleeve with the contraction and expansionof the drum, said connections comprising a rigid structure carried by the end of the sleeve and presenting an internal circumferentially grooved recess, a flanged member secured to the drum engaging and turning in; said recess, and a longitudinal tongue and groove connection between thesaid rigid structure of thesleeve and a stationary part of said heating chamber structure, whereby the said rigid structure is prevented from transmitting a twisting efiort to the sleeve.

3. An expansion joint for a'rotary drying apparatus employing a' rotatable drying drum and a heating chamber through the walls of which said drum extends, the same comprising a longitudinally-expansible metallic sleeve surrounding'the walls of the drum, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to the walls of the heating chamber, gas-sealing connec-- tions at the opposite end of the sleeve between the latter and the drum for permitting relative rotation between the two, while permitting also the expansion and contraction of the sleeve with the expansion and contraction of the drum, said connections comprising a rigid structure carried by the end of the sleeve, and a rotatably co-acting, engaging, gas-sealing wall carried by the drum and longitudinally fixed to the sleeve for causing the same to move with the drum in its expansion and contraction while permitting rotation of the drum relative to the sleeve. I

4;. An expansion joint for a rotary drying apparatus employing a rotatable drying drum and a heating chamber through the walls of which said drum extends, the same comprising a longitudinally-expansible metallic sleeve surrounding the walls of the drum, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end of the walls of the heating chamber, gas-sealing connections at the opposite end of the sleeve between thelatter and the drum for permitting relative rotation between the two while permitting also the expansion and contraction of the sleeve with the expansion and contracthe sleeve, a r otata'bly co-acting, engaging, gas-sealing wall. carried by the drum longitudinally fixed to the sleeve to cause the same to move with the drum in its expansion and contraction while periiiittng rotation of the drum relative to the sleeve, and stationary means engaging the rigid structure and confining it to a longitudinal movement to prevent the sleeve from twisting under the rotation of thedrum.

5. Anexpansion joint for a rotary drying apparatus employing a rotatable drying drum structure and a heating chamber structure through the walls of which said drum extends, the same comprising a longitudina'lly-expansiblesleeve surrounding the walls of the drum and covering theopening 1n the heatingmhamber, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to one of said structures but longitudinally fixed for relative rotation at the opposite end to said other structure by a sealing joint, whereby there is permitted longitudithrough the walls of which said drum ex-' tends, the same comprising a longitudinally expansible sleeve surrounding the walls of the drum and covering the opening in the heating chamber, said sleeve bein'g longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to one of said. structures but longitudinally fixed for relative rotation at the opposite end to said other structure by a sealing joint, whereby it is permitted longitudinal, contraction and expansionwith the contraction and expansion of the drum and said opening is sealed. against the passage of gas, and means to guide the last named end of the sleeve in its longitudinal'movement to prevent the twisting of the sleeve underthe rotation of the drum.

7. An expansion joint for a rotary drying apparatus employing a rotatable drying drum structure and a heating chamber structure through the walls of which said drum extends, the same comprising a longitudinally-expansible sleeve surrounding the walls of the drum and covering the opening in the heating chamber, said sleeve being longitudinally, and non-rotatably fixed at one end to the walls of the heating chamber, and connections at the opposite end to the drum for fixing the same to move longitudinally therewith but permitting rotation of the drum within the sleeve, said connections comprising relatively rotatable, co-acting, engaging, gas-sealing walls presented respectively by the sleeve and the drum.

8. An expansion joint for sealing a gap between a rotatable, longitudinally-expansible element and a relatively non-rotatable element through which the rotatable element protrudes, the same comprising a peripherally corrugated sleeve surrounding the protruding walls of the rotatable element and covering the opening in the non-rotatable element through which the rotatable element extends, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to one of said elements, connections at the opposite end of the sleeve to said other element comprising relatively rotatable co-actingwalls in frictional engagement presented respectively by the sleeve and the element with relation to which the sleeve rotates, thereby longitudinally fixing the sleeve to the said element but permitting relative rotation, and a sealing device overlying the joint between said co-acting walls and fixed on one of said relatively rotatable parts and resiliently pressed in frictional contact with the walls of said other relatively rotatable part.

11 expansion o nt for a rotary drying 9. An expansion joint for sealing a gap between a rotatable longitudinally-expansible element and .a relatively non-rotatable element, the same comprising a peripherally corrugated sleeve surrounding the walls of the rotatable element, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to the non-rotatable element, sealing connections at the opposite end of the sleeve between the latter and the rotatable element for permitting relative rotation between the two, while permitting also the expansion and contraction of the sleeve with the expansion and. contraction of the rotatable element, said connections comprising a rigid structure carried by the end of the sleeve presenting an internal circumfcrentially grooved recess, and a tongue and groove connection for said rigid structure to longitudinally fix the same with relation to the rotatable element and guide the same in its lateral movement and prevent the sleeve from twisting under the rotation of said rotatable element.

10. An expansion joint for sealing a gap between a rotatable longitudinally-expansible element and a relatively non-rotatable element, the same comprising a peripherally corrugated sleeve surrounding the walls of the rotatable element, said sleeve being longi tudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to the non-rotatable element and sealing connections at the opposite end of the sleeve between the latter and the rotatable element for permitting relative rotation between the two while permitting also the expansion and contraction of the sleeve with the expansion and contraction of the rotatable element, said connections comprising a rigid structure carried by the end of the sleeve presenting an internal circumferentially grooved recess, and a flanged member secured to the rotatable member engaging the said recess and longitudinally fixing the samewith relation to the rotatable element.

11. An expansion joint for sealing a gap between a rotatable longitudinally-expansible element and a relatively non-rotatableelement through which the rotatable element protrudes, the same comprising a peripherally corrugated sleeve surrounding the protruding walls of the rotatable element and covering the opening in the non-rotatable element through which the rotatable element extends, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to thewalls of the non-rotatable element and connections at the opposite end longitudinally fixing the 1 ing the sleeve to the rotatable element and permitting it to expand and contract therenon-rotatably fixed at one .end to one of said elements and longitudinally fixed at the opposite end to the other of said elements, gassealing means for permitting relative rotation between the sleeve and said last named element comprising a flanged member associated with one of said elements, and a grooved member with which said flanged member engages associated with the other of said elements.

13. An expansion joint for sealing a gap between a rotatable, longitudinally-expansible element and a relatively non-rotatable element through which the rotatable element protrudes, the same comprising a. peripherally corrugated sleeve surrounding the protruding walls of the rotatable element and covering the opening in the non-rotatable element through which the rotatable element extends, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to the walls of one of said elements and longitudinally fixed but rotatably connected at its opposite end to said other element by a sealing joint, whereby there is permitted longitudinal contraction and expansion of said sleeve with the contraction and expansion of the rotatable element and the said opening is sealed to oppose the passage of gas, and means to guide the last named end of the sleeve in its longitudinal movement to prevent the twisting thereof under the rotation of said rotatable element.

14. An expansion joint for sealing a gap between a rotatable, longitudinally-expansible element and'a relativelynon-rotatable element through which the rotatable element whereby there is permitted longitudinal con-' traction and expansion of said sleeve with the contraction and expansion of the rotatable element and the said opening is closed to oppose the passage of gas.

In testimony whereof, I name to this specification,

CHARLES E. GREENE.

protrudes, the same comprising'a peripherally corrugated sleeve surrounding the protrudingwalls of the rotatable element and covering the'opening in the non-rotatable element through which the rotatable element extends, said sleeve being longitudinally and non-rotatably fixed at one end to one of said elements anihlongitudi-nally fixed at the opposite end to the other of said elements, and a sealing-joint between the sleeve and said last element for permitting relative rotation while opposing the leakage of gas through the said opening.

15. An expansion joint for sealing a gap 7 between a rotatable, longitudinally-expansible element and a relatively non-rotatable element from which the rotatable element have signed my 

